Ricky Ponting's poor record in India places the Australia captain under tremendous pressure in the Border-Gavaskar series, according to pace bowler Zaheer Khan.
Ponting's average of 12.28 in India is his lowest in any country and his aggregate of 17 runs in the three Tests in 2000-01 is his worst in any series.
The 33-year-old, who has a Test average of 58.37 from 119 matches, has vowed to improve his figures in India in the coming weeks, but Zaheer expects that desire to work to the hosts' advantage.
"It (Ponting's low average in India) is something that is definitely going to work in our favour," Zaheer told NDTV.
"He is under pressure and this could be his last tour to India as a captain."
"Going by his recent comments, there is clearly pressure on him and that is an advantage to us."
Zaheer was surprised when Ponting declared his side would start as underdogs.
"For a captain who is leading the world's best Test side to say something like that shows quite clearly that he is under tremendous pressure," added Zaheer.
"Perhaps it has to do with the fact that he hasn't got runs in India."
Zaheer, however, refused to concede that Australia would be easy to beat despite arriving with what has been claimed to be one of their weakest sides.
"It's always a good challenge to play a team that is No.1 in the Test rankings," he added.
"I think we are up to the challenge."
"We are focusing on our strengths rather than dwelling on the weaknesses of the Australian team."
Playing at home, India lost the series to Australia in 2004, but Zaheer said the players had put that defeat firmly behind them.
"We are not thinking of what's happened in the past now," he added.
"We can only work on things that is in our control and what we can decide on in the next month."
"We have been playing good cricket in the last few years."
"We definitely would have to play very good cricket to win this Test series."
Zaheer believes India must remove Australia opener Matthew Hayden cheaply.
"The Australian team relies quite heavily on Hayden when they tour India," Zaheer said.
"It would be good to get him out early."